February rains

The rains have fallen as they tend to do here in the month of February, and cold dampness often got into our bones.  I am not sad to see this month end.  There were good things and stresses all wrapped up together.  The clumps of time seeming endless but rushing by at the same time.

Around us the earth is awakening here, slowly but surely.  Ambitious friends already have greens from their garden, the tulip shoots are rising out of our front bed and I've been studying the seed catalog and making ever new plans of what to try and grow.

One of the wonderful parts of the month was learning that my piece sold in the art show I was in.  Through the generosity of this art supporter I made my first art sale.  A surreal moment on this journey that swept me up and really all began with a late night summer tarot read.

The cards on that warm night said that this direction was the right one, that I had to go full force and make manifest.  The warmth of that message, my friend who read them to me, and the fire we had just left carried me through the fall winds, winter freeze and past all my worries and doubts in my ability to make it happen.

This month we will travel to Quebec and visit my family and friends.  So many dear faces and memories will wrap around us.  More and more these days I pull out hand made items to remind us of our dear ones who are far away.  I am lucky to have many crafters in my family.  My mother's afghans, a quilt, a rug, and a cross stitch.  My grandmother's quilt, knit socks, knit dishcloths, embroidered place mats, mittens, scarves and toques.  My aunt's quilt for Ky and needlepoint that was a wedding gift.  My sister's cross stitch, also a wedding gift.  All of these things shelter us, and are pulled over or looked at in the cold rain to keep in the warmth and remind us of our roots.

When you live far from your family you need the reminder of these soft things.  Their energy was put into them and remains as you use them.  I've made many things with the energy of their intended recipient worked in.  As things are made I think of that person wearing them or looking at them.  It was very surreal when my art piece sold because for many weeks I had no idea who had purchased it.  I wondered where it would go and marveled that it was no longer mine and I would never see it again.  Luckily the man was generous and shared his email so I could contact him and when I did I received a wonderful reply.
So the foreign feeling of letting the piece go has subsided into a reassured feeling that he was meant to find this art and keep it for his own.  And that my future mission (should I choose to accept it) is to keep making and fulfilling the needs of others to look and share and perhaps keep an experience.

Desert Path, Embroidery & Quilting on original cotton printed photo, 2012

All this while the February rains pelted or slowly pattered down.  

Rain at Sasquatch

Our first camping trip of 2012 was certainly a memorable event.  The skies opened up and pelted us with a rainy night.  No camp fire or smores were had (well there were two attempts at fire that resulted in exactly two marshmallow's being roasted quickly) (must learn more about fire making!).  But there were some cozy tent moments, hearing an owl hooting in the forest and just enough sunshine the next morning to dry things up a bit.

We visited Sasquatch Provincial Park near the lovely town of Harrison Hot Springs.  While we didn't visit the hot springs this time we did manage to visit a hazelnut farm and a cheese shop selling cheese made on site from their own goat and cow's milk.  We even managed to sit on a patio and eat some lunch before heading home.  The weather forecast was for thundershowers and so we decided that one soggy night was plenty.  But Kyan was thrilled to be camping rain or not.  And getting out of town for 24 hours was refreshing for all of us.

 
The lesson learned here?  When it's calling for rain, unless it's under a 20 percent chance we'll try another time.  There's always next weekend.

Rainy day plans

Oh, June.  You fool me every time.  I look forward to you for months and think June, June will bring warm sun and sandals and those long days of outside time.  And then June arrives and it rains and rains and rains.  The most I can hope for 7 days in is sun by the solstice.  The longest day sometimes brings some happier fluffy clouds.  In the meantime though I am still planning.  Planning to bake and prepare things in advance.  Changing over the entry closet from scarves and mittens to sunhats and sandals.  This year, as my kitchen time has certainly grown with each moon cycle (these boys can eat I tell you) I've come to really understand the importance of planning ahead.  Having food to pull out of the freezer; whether it be for smoothies, quick treats for guests, or even the "I don't feel like cooking" blues is a must.   And since those hot days are inevitable (they are coming right?) I don't want to be chained to my stove during the dog days of summer.
And so I've been hatching a plan.  I've been gathering advice and making lists in my head.  On my list is making jam, freezing produce in season and trying to ferment veggies too.  So the main gist of this is that if it's raining I'm paying attention to food.  Even if it is just one small batch of cookies or researching U-pick farms rainy days are the time for it.  Because if the sun is shining we are going to be enjoying it.  Period.
So here is my list of finds that are going to help me keep our summer as fun as possible.

Warmer Weather Batch Cooking - Simple Bites

More Warm Weather Batch Cooking - Simple Bites

10 Things to do Every Day to Stay Organized - Home Your Way

Preparing for preserving season - local kitchen

Camping with Kids - Real Simple

Keep your Summer Organized - Simple Mom

If you have any additions please add them to the comments.  You can never have too many ideas or tips when it comes to food prep and planning ahead.

When it rains...

we go for a walk anyway.  At least that's what I decided today.  This week was a bit quieter for us and mama was starting to go stir crazy.  So despite the cold, wet and downright soggy conditions outside our door we loaded up with chips & some cheese, did some errands and headed to the trail. 

We had many companions on our journey on this dreary day: ducks, seagulls, pigeons, hardcore joggers, another mama with a sleeping stroller babe, some ladies with umbrellas, strange, hovering insects that looked like winter mosquitoes (!?!) and my favorites (other than the boys) lovely birds singing happily away. 
Rain, heck they love the stuff.  It was all happy birdsong out on the marsh by the lake today.  And something in their songs lifted my heart out of the marshy lowlands and into a rejuvenated spirit of it's good to be alive.  The cold does that to me.  It's something about the promise of warmth later that makes me enjoy the chill.

And then there is the beauty of nature.  The colours of spring emerging out of the west coast winter gray. 

Yellows and vibrant peachy pinks are in this spring, nature has a jump on the fashion trends.   And as for the birds I am making them a playlist.  Please leave a comment with your favorite bird song if one comes to mind and I'll share the playlist when I finish it off.  Have a great weekend.  

a collection of days

In the span of 20 days:

 September 2nd

September 9th

September 20th

September 22nd

When Autumn comes she comes, not a moment too soon or late.

Rain, Rain

It's raining here.  And raining, and raining and raining.  I'm not usually one to complain too much about the rain but I would love a few sunny and warm days.  Just a few. 
There have been a few bright spots in the last couple of weeks that are helping me through.  The upstairs is not nearly as disastrous as before.  There are boxes in closets and bags filled with giveaway items, and somewhere in there is a little bit of a more settled feeling for me.  I'm looking forward to this and to this and today I received my Mother's Day gift which is a subscription to MaryJanes Farm magazine which so far is proving to be really fun and cool to read.

So despite the rain we are getting out there and checking out the puddles, rain drop covered, droopy flowers, and the lush grasses and trees that are certainly loving this rain. 

The Outdoor Challenge is feeling a bit more like a Rain challenge to us these days.  But we can at least tell that it's spring when we see such bright colours outside and the rain is mostly warm too. 

Rain tends to be a bit distracting but if you keep a look out you can find some surprises like this spider's web glistening with water droplets.   And so we'll keep wading through puddles and donning our raincoats until this little deluge is over.  At least I'm getting some of those pesky things checked off my "to do" list.